2014 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Special Club Grand Terroirs de Chardonnay, Champagne

Disgorged in May 2019 with four grams per liter dosage, Gimonnet's 2014 Brut Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp orchard fruit, white flowers and fresh yogurt that are still quite youthfully reserved. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with racy acids and an elegant pinpoint mousse, it's seamless and complete. Still tightly wound after its recent disgorgement, it will reward patience. Drink 2023 - 2045

94+ points William Kelley robertparker.com

Pale golden yellow, silver reflections, discreet, stable mousse. Delicately smoky nuances of ripe Golden Delicious apple, some mango, chalky-mineral touch. Juicy, complex, ripe white pome fruit, fine acidity, balanced and persistent, fruity sweetness on the finish, a full-bodied food wine.

94 points falstaff.com

The 2014 Pierre Gimonnet and Fils Special Club Grand Terroirs de Chardonnay is a brilliant expression of the Côte des Blancs, bringing together some of the finest chalk driven Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites in Champagne. This cuvée draws on vineyards in Cramant, Chouilly and Cuis, each contributing a different facet to the final wine. Cramant gives power and mineral depth, Chouilly brings elegance and floral lift, while Cuis adds freshness and linear drive, all rooted in deep, pure chalk soils that have defined great Blanc de Blancs for centuries.

Pierre Gimonnet and Fils is a family grower with a long history in these villages, known for wines that favour purity, finesse and a true sense of place. The Special Club bottling is only made in top vintages and represents the estate’s finest selection of Chardonnay, aged longer on lees to build complexity while preserving freshness.

The 2014 vintage delivered Chardonnay of beautiful balance and clarity. In the glass, this wine shows lemon zest, green apple and white peach, layered with chalk dust, toasted brioche and subtle almond. The palate is finely textured and precise, with racy acidity, creamy mousse and a long, saline, mineral driven finish that speaks clearly of its chalky terroirs.

This is a superb Champagne for the table. Oysters, scallops, sashimi, roast chicken, or delicate seafood dishes all allow its purity and texture to shine. It also rewards slow, attentive drinking as it opens in the glass.

The 2014 Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Grand Terroirs de Chardonnay is already beautiful but built for the long haul. Expect it to continue evolving for fifteen to twenty years, gaining more nutty, honeyed and savoury complexity with time. It is a refined, quietly powerful Blanc de Blancs that captures the essence of the Côte des Blancs.